Rear Adm. James Stavridis, Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group 12, assists with raising the Navy Jack on board USS Gettysburg (CG-64) during morning colors on Sept. 11. The First Navy Jack will be flown on board all U.S. Navy ships in lieu of the Union Jack during the global war on terrorism. Photo by Martha Rimmer

Navy Jack flies on Mayport ships

From Staff

Ships from Naval Station Mayport joined the Navy Fleet on Sept. 11 as they replaced the Union Jack with the First Navy Jack.

The change came after the Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, ordered all U.S. Navy ships to fly the flag for the remainder of the war on terrorism.

Sept. 11 marks the first anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks in recent American history. Two commercial airliners carrying dozens of passengers were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, a third plane hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a fourth was heroically downed by its passengers in the fields of Pennsylvania. It is commonly believed to have been headed to Washington for a fourth attack.

The First Navy Jack, which is commonly known as the ''Don't Tread On Me'' flag because of the motto which appears on it, consists of a moving rattlesnake on a field of 13 horizontal red and white stripes.

From 1975-76, the First Navy Jack was flown by all Navy ships in the Fleet for only the second time since the American Revolution as a historical reminder of country's Bicenntenial celebration. Then, in 1977, the Secretary directed that only the oldest active ship in commission would have the honor of flying the Jack. Today, that honor that belongs to USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), which was commissioned April 29, 1961.

All Navy ships and craft authorized to fly the First Navy Jack received four flags each through a special distribution.